Faculty Appointments
Biography
Sudden arrhythmic death is the major cause of death in patients with congestive heart failure. In addition, heart failure increases the proarrhythmic effect of antiarrhythmic drugs, with the risk of drug induced Torsades de Pointes arrhythmias being approximately doubled by heart failure. Nonetheless the mechanisms of regulation of ion channels in heart failure are incompletely understood. Our works aims to understand the pathological remodeling of cardiac ion currents in heart failure in order to develop novel treatments to reverse these effects and treat life threatening arrhythmias. We also study the effect of genetic mutations linked to the inherited cardiac arrhythmia Long QT syndrome. We try to understand the role of specific genetic mutations on the patient clinical phenotype and response to treatment. Identification of disease- and mutation- specific therapies will ultimately allow tailoring of therapy to patients, optimizing treatment and lowering the overall risk of life threatening cardiac arrhythmias.
Professional Background
EDUCATION
BS: PUC-Rio, Brazil; Physics (1989)
MS: PUC-Rio, Brazil; Biophysics (1992)
PhD: Imperial College, UK; Biophysics (1997)
Postdoctoral Fellow - Yale University - Department of Physiology (1997-2000)
Postdoctoral Fellow - Mount Sinai School of Medicine - Department of Physiology and Biophysics (2000-2003)
APPOINTMENTS
2003-2004: Instructor - Mount Sinai School of Medicine - Department of Physiology and Biophysics
2004-2012: Assistant Professor - University of Rochester - Department of medicine - Cardiovascular Research Institute
2013-now: Associate Professor (Research) - University of Rochester - Department of medicine - Cardiovascular Research Institute
Research
We are interested in understanding the regulation of ion channels by diverse G-protein signaling pathways in normal and pathological states.
One major focus of our current work involves the changes in function and regulation of cardiac ion channels that lead to the pathogenesis of the Long QT syndrome. Our work attempts to translate channel function and dysregulation at the cellular level to patient clinical phenotype and response to treatment.
A second focus of our current research is the study of the pathological remodeling of the slow delayed rectifier-like current (IKs) in heart failure. KCNQ1 is co-assembled with the KCNE1 gene product in the heart to produce IKs, which is one of the main currents responsible for myocyte repolarization. The most commonly inherited cardiac arrhythmia, long-QT1 (LQT1), is due to mutations in the KCNQ1 potassium channel. Heart disease is also known to decrease IKs currents. Our current research focus on stress signals caused by chronic stimulation of kinase signaling pathways, and their consequence for ion channel function and membrane trafficking. We explore possible novel antiarrhythmic treatments to reverse IKs pathological remodeling during heart failure.
Credentials
Education
1989
BS | Brazil-Pontificia Universidade Catolica
Physics
1992
MS | Brazil-Pontificia Universidade Catolica
Physics
1997
PhD | Imperial College
Biophysics
Awards
2013
NIH reviewer ESTA Study Section
2012 - Present
AHA reviewer - Cardiac Electrophysiology Study Section
2004 - Present
Scientist Development Grant
Sponsor: American Heart Association
2002 - 2004
Postdoctoral Fellowship American Heart Association
2002
New York City Board Fellow Award American Heart Association
1992 - 1996
PhD Scholarship Federal Agency for Post-Graduate Education (CAPES- Brazil)
1990 - 1992
Graduate Student Scholarship National Research Council (CNPq Brazil)
1987
Outstanding Basic Science Student Award PUC-Rio
1986 - 1989
Full Merit University Scholarship PUC-Rio
1986
Outstanding Basic Science Student Award PUC-Rio
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Publications
Journal Articles
11/28/2019
Ronzier E, Parks XX, Qudsi H, Lopes CM. "Statin-specific inhibition of Rab-GTPase regulates cPKC-mediated IKs internalization." Scientific reports.. 2019 Nov 28; 9(1):17747. Epub 2019 Nov 28.
11/27/2019
Braun C, Parks XX, Qudsi H, Lopes CM. "PKC?II specifically regulates KCNQ1/KCNE1 channel membrane localization." Journal of molecular and cellular cardiology.. 2019 Nov 27; Epub 2019 Nov 27.
3/18/2019
Lopes CM, O-Uchi J, Ronzier E, Parks XX. "Fluvastatin inhibits Rab5-mediated IKs internalization caused by chronic Ca-dependent PKC activation." Journal of molecular and cellular cardiology.. 2019 Mar 18; Epub 2019 Mar 18.
Books & Chapters
2000
Chapter Title: Single cell electrophysiology and ion channelopathies
Book Title: The molecular genetics of cardiac electrophysiology
Author List: C.M. Lopes, Goldstein S.A., Apkon M.
Edited By: CI Berul, J Tobin
Published By: Kluwer Academic Publishers 2000
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